IAF air strike in Pakistan
#India struck biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot; a very large number of terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and fidayeen jihadis were eliminated: Sh Vijay Gokhale, Foreign Secretary
Foreign diplomats from the USA, UK, Russia, Australia,Indonesia,Turkey and six Asean nations being briefed by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Indian air strike across LOC in Balakot
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country & fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose
Hours after the Indian Air Force destroyed three Jaish terror launchpads at Balakot, Chakoti and Muzaffarabad across the Line of Control in Pakistan, India's Foreign Secretary on Monday confirmed that one of the terror facilities in Balakot, which was struck down by IAF's Mirage 2000, was headed by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar's brother-in-law Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghouri.
In a statement released by MEA minutes after the press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said:
"In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of today, India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated. This facility at Balakot was headed by MAULANA YUSUF AZHAR (alias USTAD GHOURI), the brother-in-law of MASOOD AZHAR, Chief of JeM."
Azhar Yusuf alias Mohd Salim alias Ustaad Gohri was one of the hijackers of IC-814 or the Indian Airlines Flight 814 which was hijacked on December 24, 1999, when it was en route from Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal's Kathmandu to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. After the flight was hijacked, it was flown to several locations before landing in Afghanistan's Kandahar. As per reports, the plane was hijacked by the terrorists for the release of other terrorists held in prison in India. As the hostage crisis lasted for seven days, India had to release three terrorists – JKLF leader Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, JeM terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and JeM chief Masood Azhar (who is the relative of Azhar Yusuf).
As per sources, Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar was killed in IAF Airstrike in Balakot, Pakistan. He was on Interpol list & was among the most wanted in India, who was heading the largest terror camp of JeM in Pakistan.
READ: Here's All The Latest News As India Strikes Pakistan And Decimates Jaish-e-Mohammed Terror Camps: LIVE
Twelve days after the dastardly Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF Jawans were martyred, the Indian Air Force, in a pre-dawn operation, struck and destroyed terrorist camps across the Line of Control on Tuesday.
Here's what we know so far:
As per sources, it was the Indian Air Force's Mirage-2000 fighter jets, 12 in number, that participated in the operation.
As per IAF sources, the operation was conducted at 3:30 AM on February 26.
The operation involved dropping 1000 kg payloads on terror camps
Jaish-e-Mohammed terror launchpads at Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad were destroyed in the operation
Balakot camp was led by the brother in law of JeM chief Masood Azhar
PM Modi briefed both President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu about the action.
Govt has called for an all party meeting at 5 pm later on Tuesday. EAM Sushma Swaraj has called a meeting inviting Opposition leaders at Jawahar Bhawan (MEA) to brief them on India’s action.
TUNE IN HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND BREAKING NEWS AS #IndiaStrikesPakistan
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She is a travel enthusiast who always sleeps with another bucket list of adventure in her mind. Scouting places and talking to people is her muse. An explorer who would love mountains over sea any day. While life likes to be simple, she likes to find ways to add thrill to it. She is as strong as 'strong' can be and has the potential to run the world on her own commands! Reach out to me at Monica.Aggarwal@republicworld.com
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